Latest news with #105.3TheFan
NBC Sports
2 days ago
- Business
- NBC Sports
Stephen Jones: Trevon Diggs paid the price for not being here, but his absence has hurt us, too
The Cowboys hurt Trevon Diggs' feelings for exercising the salary de-escalator in the cornerback's contract. Team officials said they expected Diggs to be a better leader by participating in 84.375 percent of the offseason program at the team facility, which was stipulated in his contract. Diggs credited his rehab team in South Florida for having him ahead of schedule in his return from chondral bone graft surgery on his left knee. The back-and-forth continued Tuesday when executive vice president Stephen Jones responded to Diggs' complaints about the team lowering his $9 million base salary by $500,000 for 2025. 'We expect leadership, and we expect him to be here,' Jones said on 105.3 The Fan. 'He paid the price for not being here, but we're paying a price, too. We feel like he'd be further along had he done his rehab here. He might differ with that.' Diggs does differ with that, having said Monday he hopes to be on the field sometime in September. The Cowboys could have avoided the dispute with one of their stars by using workout bonuses instead of de-escalators in their big contracts. Instead, they have angered another one of their big-name players for something they could have prevented.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cowboys CeeDee Cryptic Message Pushes George Pickens Trade Frenzy
FRISCO - A few days before the NFL Draft, broke the story of the Dallas Cowboys being in conversation about trading for George Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers. We had the trade puzzle pieces that fit. (Yes, the Cowboys still need a receiver). And we had the obstacles, involved. And we listed them in detail. ... The money. Pickens' attitude. The trade cost. All of it. Advertisement But we also slapped down the wrong-headed idea that "Jerry Jones likes making big splash trades'' as a concept from another era. That's was not the motivation here. And it still is not the motivation here. Last week, owner Jones told a handful of us here at The Star that the team is working on two "substantive'' trades. We knew it was true when he said it on that Tuesday. We know it was true on that Thursday when the teams talked. And on Friday? COO Stephen Jones went on 105.3 The Fan on Friday to testify that those possible puzzle-piece trade ideas were still alive. And then came Sunday - remember, this is after the draft. ... and we spoke to sources representing two different NFL teams who were still of the belief that Pickens to Dallas can still happen. ... right along with Jerry Jones having said "the train hasn't left the station'' regarding pursuit of help here. Advertisement On Tuesday night, social media lit itself on fire in regard to a Pickens-to-Dallas connection. Fans went into a frenzy. And they're still there. Some in the media did the same, denying and backtracking and chasing their tails. And amid it all, CeeDee Lamb - the receiver who needs a partner around here - posted a tweet of a Simpsons character waving "Hello.'' Lamb's cryptic message on X has us back on the wild ride of Pickens trade rumors. Hey, maybe CeeDee just likes Ralph Wiggum? Either way ... the post now has almost 1 million views. Pickens doesn't fit the mold here in so many ways. Under new coach Brian Schottenheimer, the Cowboys being signed and drafted are "character guys.'' Advertisement Pickens, meanwhile, is known for tantrums, immaturity, and lack of accountability. Nevertheless, we told you the call occurred. And now? Almost a week after our initial report tying the two clubs together, ESPN is noting that Dallas tried to trade for a star "receiver from an AFC North team.'' Oh. And after that, as the calendar keeps flipping, The Athletic is reporting that Dallas and the Steelers tried to work out a trade for Pickens. "George Pickens' name was tossed around in trade discussions this past week," Dianna Russini wrote on Twitter. "The Cowboys were one of the teams that discussed bringing in the Steelers' wideout, sources tell me.'' Advertisement Oh. (Psst: We know.) Pickens is an athletic and rangy target with good size at 6-3 and youth. He will make a great impact in the NFL for years to come. Someday, we bet he matures - the former second-round pick just turned a tender 24 - and puts the silliness behind him. Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens and one of these running backs, say, just-drafted Texas sprinter Jaydon Blue? That remains tantalizing. Pickens is entering the final year of his cheap rookie contract (making $4.1 million) and in 2026 might command an APY of $30 million. Will the Cowboys pay top dollar to a No. 2 receiver with Lamb already making $35 million a year? We have our doubts, and maybe that why JAG names like Amari Cooper are now being floated. Advertisement Bur the phone call was placed. The effort toward a "substantive'' (Jerry's word) trade was made. And the Cowboys' search for a second receiver powering them to overcome whatever other obstacles arise? There are plenty of reasons to believe this is something the Cowboys will continue to work on. Related: Cowboys Poised For Mingo vs. KaVontae Camp Competition Related: Source Says Cowboys Want 'Pickens-Like' Receiver Amid Amari Rumor Want more Cowboys? Come inside the Fish Report!
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cowboys EXCLUSIVE Pickens Trade Story Confirmed and Updated
FRISCO - You're welcome. A few days ago, broke the story of the Dallas Cowboys being in conversation about trading for George Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers. We had the trade puzzle pieces that fit. (Yes, the Cowboys still need a receiver). And we had the obstacles, involved. And we listed them in detail. ... The money. Pickens' attitude. The trade cost. All of it. Advertisement But we also slapped down the wrong-headed idea that "Jerry Jones likes making big splash trades'' as a concept from another era. That's was not the motivation here. And it still is not the motivation here. Last week, owner Jones told a handful of us here at The Star that the team is working on two "substantive'' trades. We knew it was true when he said it on Tuesday. We know it was true on Thursday when the two teams talked. And on Friday? COO Stephen Jones went on 105.3 The Fan on Friday to testify that those possible puzzle-piece trade ideas were still alive. And then came Sunday - remember, this is after the draft. ... and we spoke to sources representing two different NFL teams who were still of the belief that Pickens to Dallas can still happen. Advertisement Pickens doesn't fit the mold here in so many ways. Under new coach Brian Schottenheimer, the Cowboys being signed and drafted are "character guys.'' Pickens, meanwhile, is known for tantrums, immaturity, and lack of accountability. Nevertheless, we told you the call occurred. And now? On Monday, almost a week after our initial report tying the two clubs together, ESPN is noting that Dallas tried to trade for a star "receiver from an AFC North team.'' Oh. And on Tuesday, as the calendar keeps flipping, The Athletic is reporting that Dallas and the Steelers tried to work out a trade for Pickens. "George Pickens' name was tossed around in trade discussions this past week," Dianna Russini wrote on Twitter. "The Cowboys were one of the teams that discussed bringing in the Steelers' wideout, sources tell me.'' Advertisement Oh. Pickens is an athletic and rangy target with good size at 6-3 and youth. He will make a great impact in the NFL for years to come. Someday, we bet he matures - the former second-round pick just turned a tender 24 - and puts the silliness behind him. Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens and one of these running backs, say just-drafted Texas sprinter Jaydon Blue? That remains tantalizing. Pickens is entering the final year of his cheap rookie contract (making $4.1 million) and in 2026 might command an APY of $30 million. Will the Cowboys pay top dollar to a No. 2 receiver with Lamb already making $35 million a year? We have our doubts, and maybe that why JAG names like Amari Cooper are now being floated. Advertisement Bur the phone call was placed. The effort toward a "substantive'' (Jerry's word) trade was made. And the Cowboys' search for a second receiver powering them to overcome whatever other obstacles arise? We told you is was happening last week. We'll tell you now something akin to this will continue to be worked on. Related: Source Says Cowboys Want 'Pickens-Like' Receiver Amid Amari Rumor Related: Sources: Cowboys Trade for George Pickens in Play? Want more real Cowboys coverage? C'mon inside! -
USA Today
26-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Cowboys 2nd-round pick may really be $200 million insurance policy
Cowboys 2nd-round pick may really be $200 million insurance policy The Cowboys went OL 3 times in 4 years in the first round. Now it's DE 3 times in 4 second-round selections. But this may mean something different. When the Dallas Cowboys selected their third first-round offensive lineman in the last four years, it invoked memories of the 2010s. Tyler Booker, the Alabama guard, was picked to replace Zack Martin, who retired this spring. He will join forces with Tyler Smith and Tyler Guyton to form three-fifths of the starting offensive line for the Cowboys. The repetition worked wonders with Martin, Tyron Smith and Travis Frederick, so looking to recapture that magic makes plenty of sense. The same logic cannot be applied to the three-in-four process they've invoked at the edge position. Dallas selected Boston College edge Donovan Ezeiruaku with the No. 44 pick. This selection is on the heels of selecting Western Michigan's Marshawn Kneeland at No. 56 in 2024 and Ole Miss Rebel Sam Williams in 2022, also at No. 56. Only those players are in rotation opposite and behind their 2021 first-round selection, perhaps the best defensive player in the NFL, Micah Parsons. The offensive linemen are going to be guaranteed 50-70 snaps per game as long as they're healthy. And while edge rushers certainly have a time share aspect to what they do, there really aren't that many snaps to go around for all of that investment. One of our draft commandments is drafting a player a year before the need develops. So Ezeiruaku is in a perfect position to indoctrinate himself in Matt Eberflus' defense in Year 1 in 2025, the last year of Williams' rookie deal. Dante Fowler, who signed in free agency after 10.5 sacks in Washington last season, is only on a one-year deal, too. But there's someone else who is currently on the final year of his deal; Parsons. And while the club and Parsons are working towards a long-term agreement that's expected to surpass $200 million in total value, it must be discussed that drafting the bendy Ezeiruaku could be insurance in case the sides aren't able to come to an agreement. Add in the fact the Cowboys, based on the conversations on the 105.3 The Fan broadcast, were strongly considering trading down to acquire more picks, along with the reality there are big needs at wideout and running back but only one Top 100 pick remaining, and it's an eyebrow raiser. The Cowboys certainly could've been drafting their board, taking the best player. The running back they liked the best Quinshon Judkins and wideout Luther Burden were snatched ahead of them and drafting the best player on the board is better than reaching for a position in the second round. That would be a cardinal sin. But it's hard to look at the decision to take the preferred edge (ahead of a serious run on the position) without at least thinking that it could be protecting themselves in case the unthinkable happens and Parsons isn't in Dallas for the foreseeable future.
NBC Sports
25-04-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Stephen Jones says Cowboys don't feel need to take a running back or wide receiver
The Cowboys took guard Tyler Booker in the first round on Thursday night, but there was a lot of talk about targeting a different offensive position leading into this year's draft. Wide receiver was a popular choice in mock drafts and there have been calls for the Cowboys to add a dynamic rookie running back as well. The latter position was the subject of a question during executive vice president Stephen Jones's Friday appearance on 105.3 The Fan. Jones was asked if the team felt it needed to come out of the draft with a running back and he said he doesn't see any position as one that must be filled before the end of the seventh round. 'I like what we did in free agency,' Jones said. 'That's one of the things we like to accomplish in free agency is get some guys in and feel like we did that. We don't really feel like we have to pick a position anywhere in terms of our depth. That's how you make mistakes when you say 'hey, we've got to draft for need here.' I think you make mistakes that way. Don't get me wrong, it comes into everybody's pick when you're looking at players but we don't feel the need to have to reach and take a player down the line just because we need a position.' Jones reiterated most of that view when asked if that extended to wide receivers as well. The Cowboys signed running backs Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders as free agents and they added Parris Campbell to their receiving corps.
